NBFC E-news - Thursday, April 1, 2010
Spotlight
NBFC MEMBER CREW AND CAST DATABASE ONLINE
Cat has created a new film/television crew database for Film Co-op members.
Go to this link to check it out: http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/crew.htm and check out some of the crew profiles online now....more to come! Please do check out the instructions very carefully.
Any questions: email Cat at info@nbfilmcoop.com and get her your credits.
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AHA UPDATES AHA UPDATES AHA UPDATES AHA UPDATES
Check out the latest AHA (Actors Helping Actors) Member news on the AHA site at: http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/aha/
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NBFC MYTH BUSTERS SHED LIGHT
If a full NBFC member in good standing applies for the Short Film Venture grant, they can go through the NBFC production committee with their full proposal asking for equipment assistance before they find out they have received the Short Film Venture grant.
FALSE!
This is not true. NBFC members are only permitted to go through the NBFC production committee with their full proposal now if they have gotten to the point where they have been shortlisted for a Short Film Venture grant. They will be treated as any other member who has to have all their ducks in a row and everything confirmed (core member crew etc...) when they move their proposal through the committee.
Email Cat if you have any questions about anything Film Co-op related at: info@nbfilmcoop.com
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MEMBER UPDATES MEMBER UPDATES MEMBER UPDATES
SONGBIRD APPRECIATION
It’s been almost a month since we finished principle photography for the short film ‘Songbird’ and I want to thank everyone who was involved with the production.
(Still Photo by Glen D. Ross Photography)
I became a member of the New Brunswick Film Co-operative in 1997 and ‘Songbird’ is the 4th film I directed through the Film Co-op. Over the years I have studied film from a theoretical, production, and pop-cultural perspectives. With the help of the Co-op, I have been able to produce films that are a culmination of all my film interests. I feel very lucky to have had the human resources, equipment, and training experience the Co-op has provided me over the years. After receiving the NB Joy Award for ‘Songbird’, I wanted to make sure that I would be able to assemble a cast and crew that would be engaged with the process of making ‘Songbird’.
We had a couple of new faces on the production team, but many were brought over from my last film, ‘Hopewell’. My incredible wife Nathalie Rayne, who is always my rock, and is the editor for the film...without her I would be nothing. I had a completely new cast for ‘Songbird’, many who were/are members of the acting group AHA. They were wonderful to work with. My two principle actors, Natasha Rose Arluison and Andrew Long both provided great performances. Arthur Thomson, my producing partner/co-writer/art director is an incredible friend and great filmmaking partner. Tony Merzetti, the D.O.P. for ‘Songbird’, and I have worked closely together for years now and I am still amazed how much fun we have in the creative process. I want to thank my friend Doug Sutherland for coming on board as a producer and supporter of the film. There are so many people I would like to thank who either directly worked on the project and there were many who inspired me. At the end, I hope everyone can be proud of what they brought to Songbird – I know I am.
Film Co-op member Tim Rayne
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MEMBER UPDATES MEMBER UPDATES MEMBER UPDATES
This year, I'm really looking forward to The Silver Wave Film Festival. I've only been attending for the past couple years but to my mind, it has become a moral imperative for me to show up each November and head to the UNB campus, St. Anne, and the Charlotte Street Arts Center to watch NB filmmakers in action. I especially enjoy the comedies each year. There's so much great comedic talent in New Brunswick and it's great to see everybody come out and make you laugh.
Over the past few years I've done work as script supervisor, editor, grip, assistant camera and assistant director for independent films shot in NB ranging from Bloodshed and The Clean Up to A Saturday Affair and Delivrance . I even had the opportunity to write some of the films that screened at Silver Wave like Assassins and The Butterfly Broach . Last year, on a whim, I submitted a short comedy film that I had acted, produced, wrote and directed several years earlier in high school called Eggs . It was nominated for Best NB Student Film.
I enjoyed that experience so much, that I've decided to try to duplicate it. In May, I'm going to commence production of my most ambitious project yet: a black and white comedy short on 16 mm called Thanksgiving Wishes . I plan to shoot it with a skeleton crew over a single weekend, emulating the experiences I've had with Pierre Huard, Michel Guitard and Dennis Poirier (who are all going to be members of my crew). The script is 26 pages, so it's going to be hard work getting it all done in one weekend but I love a challenge. This will mark Michel's first Super 16 mm project as a cinematographer and it will be my first directing role with the NB Film Co-op. I'm very excited. Bruce LeGrow and Donovan Richard are also set to aid in my long cinematic voyage. Thanksgiving Wishes revolves around the affectionate and kooky relationships of Amber: a chef struggling to conjure up the "perfect Thanksgiving". Taking place over the course of a single evening, family tensions spiral out of control, as everyone tries to come to terms with gathering and eating in peace until a climatic revelation forever changes Amber and everyone around her.
It's going to be a real actor's piece. My goal was to write something that actors and actresses would really love to be a part of and my goal as a director is to help foster great performances. Unlike, the films I've directed in the past, this is going to have a great deal of rehearsal before the actual shooting takes place, where I hope to explore the full potential of every cast member. As a member of The Actors Helping Actors Moncton Chapter, I'm eager to spend time with these talented artists and learn more about what it's like to be in front of the camera.
Auditions for cast will be held next week at the Moncton Public Library on Wednesday April 7 from 5 PM to 9 PM in conference room "A/B", Friday April 9th from 11:30 AM to 5 PM in conference room "D" and Saturday April 10th from 11:30 AM to 5 PM in conference room "D". Anyone interested in auditioning please email me at den.sweet@gmail.com
I'm anticipating having a final-cut submitted to the festival and hopefully it will get into this year's Silver Wave Film Festival, so come November, get ready to laugh... and keep an eye out for Thanksgiving Wishes.
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MEMBER ARTICLES MEMBER ARTICLES
THE FILM CO-OP HAS BEEN MY LIFE
By Michel Guitard
Part 1: Getting Started
When I was in the 5th grade, my family moved from Grand Lake to Fredericton. Not much changed for me because I had been going to school in Fredericton for 3 years already, but I was living in a new city, and had been auditioning for acting roles at the time because I thought I wanted to be an actor and films in general interested me. It was while doing these auditions that my mother eventually got introduced to the Film Co-op. After meeting with Cathie, my mother and I signed up and before I knew it, I was volunteering and taking workshops like nobody's business.
It was in taking workshops that I discovered that my interest was focused on behind the camera work. It was an interesting time at the Film Co-op in 1999. It was actually becoming feasible for independent filmmakers to shoot on a digital medium and get a good quality product, without all of the incurred costs of dealing with film. The other great advantage to this new medium was of course ease of use. I remember my first time using a camcorder at the Film Co-op: it was the 1-chip Canon Elura, and I thought it was way cool. I have a really vivid memory of shooting a cop writing a ticket on the corner of York and Queen in downtown Fredericton, and him not being very pleased with my presence... but at any rate, I remember it mostly as being really fun, and I've been hooked on shooting ever since.
It was that same summer that I learned a really good lesson in low cost video production too; not having grown up with a proper computer, I had no prejudices towards the systems I was being taught on. The Film Co-op had a Mac computer network setup which was cool, and that summer I asked Film Co-op member and editor Brigitte Noel and Cathie if I could sit in on the editing of a video poem project Cathie was in post on entitled Those Eyes. The Premiere workflow was so straightforward, that after a couple weeks of watching, I was able to cut and finish my own little test projects, using bits of footage wherever I could find them. All I needed was a camera, a tape and a Mac to make it all happen. Later that summer, my parents decided to buy a computer but it was a PC, or as Brigitte calls them "Piece of Crap". Needless to say I was a little disappointed, but it worked out in the end because later that year I shot my first project 2:36 , which was edited at the Film Co-op due to my lack of a Mac. Getting a chance to watch my project go through all of the necessary steps was key in learning how films worked and ultimately taught me how to make films.
I continued volunteering anywhere I could at the Film Co-op. For the next 3 years I worked on member's projects, participated in video contests, and even got my own camcorder! At this point my experience was now far beyond just using a camera and editing on Premiere with a G3. I had tried lighting and gripping, sound recording and mixing, assisting and operating different kinds of DV cameras, script supervision, behind the scenes filming and even a little acting. (Check out Tony Merzetti and Tim Rayne's film, Natural Remedy in the Film Co-op film library for a real trip down memory lane... I have less freckles now.) It was then time to
make another project, so I went ahead and made the film Mystery in 2004. This was my second project and I was able to be a lot more hands on than last time, and besides I was way older now that I was 14, I was ready for a challenge. I decided to do the post production myself, but I had a secret weapon. Earlier in the year, I had won a national video contest that landed me and my friends on my team powerbook laptops as the prize, and it couldn't have happened at a better time because final cut 4 had just come out. By the end of that summer I could use Final Cut pretty well, and had a fine cut of my film Mystery done, which
was submitted and luckily screened at the Tidal Wave Film Festival (now Silver Wave) later that year. I now felt that I had all of the basic knowledge I needed to make my own films, it was just a matter of practice, practice and more practice, more workshops and more workshops because you never stop learning.
Part 2: Getting Serious
I was now finally in high school! It was time to systematically, through the process of elimination, weed out things I didn't like, to lock my future solidly in pace by picking a career. I know, this sounds like total BS, or as Brigitte used to say, "Bull Shit", but that's pretty much exactly how the orientation lecture went for me in school at the time. I already knew what I wanted to do once I was out of school, the choice was clear for me. So, I did what everyone else did through high school: coasted. I used to skip school all the time for film stuff with the Film Co-op (oops). Each year I would essentially go missing in November for the entire time the NB Film Co-op's Tidal Wave Film Festival (now known as Silver Wave) was on. I continued to volunteer on projects and further my skills in all the production areas I could. The biggest change for me was when I started to work more and more closely on actual film projects, mostly 16mm and super 16mm. I decided that my third project would be shot on film, and in the 12th grade, I was able to get a grant thanks to NB Film and the NB Film Co-op to shoot a short film venture project entitled Simon Hunter . Designed to challenge, Simon Hunter had my poor crew and cast working overnight in various parts of Odell Park and all over the city of Fredericton. With over 60% of the script set outside, and only 1 day scene, it wasn't easy, but I felt much more prepared on this new project than on the first two projects and as a result had a great time making it and had a lot of help.
Before finishing up the school year in 2007, I had the chance to take part in the Film Co-op's brand new Film and Television Certificate Programme. I remember rushing out of the directing workshop through the program because I was about to be late for my own high school graduation! The final part of the programme was to complete a 3 part series designed for television. I was honoured to direct one of the shorts,
The Butterfly Broach
. It was a very interesting process because we were working with industry mentors, using their rules in pre-production and on the shoot. Also this was the first time I was directing something I didn't write
myself. It was different, but I had a lot of fun and felt very comfortable working in this new way. At this point though, I was in a pre-pharmacy program at UNB. So once again I went awol for weeks before and during the shoot, coming up with any excuse to re-take a midterm.
The same semester I got my first real chance at being an actual DOP on a Film Co-op member short called Pray my Children . It was an awesome experience because once again I wanted to push what I could do. We decided to shoot on Mini DV but with a 35mm lense adapter called the Redrock. Now infamous at the Film Co-op because of its complexity level and the time needed to put it together, that piece of gear was the most miserable thing I had ever used to capture images with, but it didn't matter because it looked sexy. And, for the first time, I was actually able to get images on the screen that were at least SIMILAR to what was in my head and was very pleased with what we were able to do on the project.
The next semester I thought it would be fun to take Tony Merzetti's Film Production class. By the way, it was the most interesting thing I did at university, and the only class I had anything to show for, out of 14. The script we picked was called Assassins , and I co-directed it with another student in the class, Cameron Mitchell and it was written by fellow Co-op member D.J. Sweet. Once again, I wasn't sure what to expect. With Tony's guidance and a ton of hard work we managed to pull off pre to post-production in record time, we even picked up a couple of awards at the Silver Wave Film Festival in cinematography and sound design!
Then summer came. I decided that there was no way I was going back to school, so I started working on everything I could at the Film Co-op. I was volunteering like crazy in different crew roles, but much of my attention then turned to another project entitled The Clean-up. Pierre Huard had asked me to shoot his guerrilla project with him over the summer and I was pumped because I convinced him to do everything in HD for the simple reason that I wanted to play with the new toys the Film Co-op has and push myself further once again. No AD's, no Script Supervisor, in fact most of the time there wasn't even a copy of the
script on set! We worked fast and it looked great. We went from concept to picture lock in 6 weeks. Later on that summer I was asked to do re-shoots for Blood Shed which we shot in September and I still can't get the pig's blood out of my shoes, but it was worth it and tons of fun to get back together with the guy's I'd been working with pretty much all year.
The Summer of 2008 was now over and it was time to start thinking about the Silver Wave Film Festival. I had been volunteering at the festival since its inception, but this year was different because Mike Cowie, Technical Director at the Film Co-op, had to leave shortly before the festival began. Next thing I knew, I was in charge of all things technical and had little time for any error. The festival went by without a hitch and Tony asked me to be the new Technical Director at the Film Co-op where I am now working two days a week with Cat and Tony.
Last November was the 2009 Silver Wave Film Festival which was fantastic, best one ever technically, creatively and socially.
Most recently I've worked on more member shorts in different roles including Tony Merzetti's film entitled Francis Sherman: When All Is Said And Done, Bruce LeGrow's The Kings of Cribbage, BronweN's, A Saturday Affair and others and my own short film End of the Line. I also do freelance video work on the side. Next up on my plate: Moncton screenwriter D.J. Sweet's film, Thanksgiving Wishes and finishing post on my own film.
How time flies; from 10 years old to 19 years old, the Film Co-op has been my life!
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RENEWED MEMBERS RENEWED MEMBERS RENEWED MEMBERS
ANDY MCNAMARA - FREDERICTON
Andrew McNamara is a local photographer and web site and graphic designer. He lived in South Korea for 6 years working as an English
teacher before returning to Canada in 2008. During his time in Korea, he taught almost 2,000 students including children, teens and
adults in private academies, public schools and universities, group classes and "English clubs".
Upon returning to Canada, he continued private home tutoring to many Korean families in the Fredericton area. He has worked as still photographer for different Film Co-op member films and plans on continuing to do so in the future. For private projects, he
has photographed models in costumed themes of fantasy and plans to expand to more abstract fashion styles in the near future of the likes of Lady Gaga. He also has a photography website of
www.VU22.com
advertising local family, pet and personal portrait photography. His photo gallery shows his past travels, and photographic styles.
In his spare time, he also facilitates a weekly peer discussion group
called the Better Intention Group (BIG) that meets each Tuesday 7:00pm at 924 Prospect Street, Suite 125, to discuss a variety of topics ranging from ghosts, telekinesis, reiki, angels, automatic writing, magic spells, dreams, etc. He and another Fredericton resident started the group in the fall of 2009 and it continues meeting to this day. He has the meetings open to everyone who is; interested in the paranormal/spiritual, "gifted"/intuitive or just curious and open minded. His role is to allow everyone to share and ask questions and feel welcomed. His related hobby to this is giving Tarot card readings.
He is also a certified hypnotherapist (CH) who has worked with helping people quite smoking, dealing with alien abduction memories/traumas, assisting in exorcism, dealing with childhood traumas of being bullied in order to help their current self esteem, and past life regression.
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Hi Members, if you have not already, please contact Cat and renew your membership or talk to her about it. Membership Renewals are annual and should be paid at this time as it's now close to Arpril You can renew in person at the Film Co-op, by snailmail or by paypal by going to this link on the Film Co-op website: http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/members.htm
MEMBER RENEWALS FOR 2010
Jeff Crawford (Fredericton), Andy McNamara (Fredericton), Marc Basque (Fredericton)
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NB FILM CO-OP ACTIVITIES:
SCREENWRITING IN FREDERICTON AND MONCTON
Screenwriter's Cafe - Fredericton
Check out the new site on the Film Co-op website:
http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/screenwriters_cafe.htm
FADE IN:
INT. COFFEE HOUSE - EVENING
Eight screenwriter’s sit around a table drinking coffee, discussing their scripts and giving each other tips on how to improve those scripts.
Do you like screenwriting?
Would you like to meet and consult with other screenwriters?
Have you taken a screenwriting course or workshop and need more practice?
Have you ever wondered, how can I improve my screenwriting abilities and polish my screenwriting skills?
If so then we have the group for you:
The NB Film Co-op is launching it’s new screenwriting group called The Screenwriter’s Café and we would like you to be a part of the group.
To become a member of this new and illustrious writing circle you will need to contact Cat at The NB Film Co-op and she will email you a form to fill out and email back to the Co-op.
We also have a few requirements which are listed below:
1. Participants have to be full or associate a members of the NB Film Co-op.
2. Participants have to have taken at least 1 NB film Co-op screenwriting workshop or an equivalent to that workshop elsewhere.
3. Participants can be emerging, intermediate or experienced screenwriters and they have to have a keen interest in the art and science of screenwriting.
4. Participants have to be open and friendly to the idea of critiques or constructive criticism.
5. Participants must be able to attend at least 60% of the scheduled meetings or sessions.
6. Participants must have a friendly, open and positive attitude.
7. Participants will have to fill out a membership form listing their experience, interests, training and reasons for wanting to be a part of the screenwriter's group.
NOTE: We only have enough room in the group for eight people. Only those of you who are selected by the groups Lead Facilitator will be contacted. Those of you who drop off their forms to late will be put on a waiting list. So get your forms in quickly or you could miss out on a great opportunity.
For More information please contact Cat at the NB Film Co-op at: info@nbfilmcoop.com
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CALLING ALL SCREENWRITERS - GREATER MONCTON AREA
Are you a screenwriter or interested in becoming a screenwriter and live in the Greater Moncton area? If yes, you might be interested in a new writers/critique group forming in the area. Want advice and constructive criticism on your writing or just someone to check for spelling and grammar mistakes on your latest script? Are you interested in networking and meeting other ambitious writers in the area? Eager to learn the craft of screenwriting? Or maybe, you just want to hang-out and chat with people with similar interests.
If so, contact Moncton Film Co-op member Denis Sweet at den.sweet@gmail.com to get further information and express an interest.
No experience necessary, everyone from absolute beginner to veteran writer is welcome..
Please come to the information sessions.
Thank you, hope to see you all there.
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NEW BRUNSWICK FILMMAKERS CO-OPERATIVE MEMBER PRODUCTION CALENDAR
(Refresh web page if info does not show up on Calendar)
member film shoots and activities are added on an ongoing basis.
(Click on below shaded dates to get information on scheduled member film and video shoots)
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THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
- Thank you to Robert Vinet for taking the time to email Cat cool and interesting web links that could help others.
- Thank you to Bun Nou for designing a cool header for the Screenwriter's Cafe link on the Film Co-op website.
- Thank you to Colin Smart for volunteering to lead the Screenwriter's Cafe in Fredericton.
- Thank you to D.J. Sweet for starting up a screenwriters group in the Moncton area.
- Thank you to new member Rene Cyr for his assistance in helping with NBFC film community building in the Moncton and surrounding areas.
- Thank you to new member Jared Carney for helping Cat and Tony out in the office.
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Training & Development
The NB Film Co-op annual workshop series provides hands-on practical film and video training for members and non-members alike.
The 2010 Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton workshop series website links are now online at: click here and Registration is open.
www.nbfilmcoop.com/training.htm
Formally registering and paying in advance is the only way to ensure you will have a seat in any of the offered courses. Pay on arrival is not an option.
Register in person at the NB Film Co-op or email to ask if there is space and pay by paypal) or by mail (Cheques and Money Orders only).
There are always limited spots available for all workshops so please call or email staff to see if there are available spots before you send your payment OR pay via PayPal please. You can put your name on the waiting list for workshops already full. For more information you can call Cat at: 506-455-1632 or email at info@nbfilmcoop.com
For any members wanting to do short digital dramatic, comedic, documentary & experimental projects: You must have your 5 required workshops (Screenwriting, Directing, Production Management, Picture Editing, Digital Camera & Lighting) in and your volunteer hours (30 hours) and you must be a full member (associate members can upgrade). Only full members can access resources. As well, more importantly, you have to be a member of the Film Co-op for at least 5 months before you are deemed eligible to do projects.
For members who want to use specific co-op equipment themselves and be specialty trained in it for a crew role, further workshops would be required to access those specific resources they want to directly use (Assistant Camera for 16mm, HD Shooting, Sound Editing, Grip, Dolly, Mini Jip, Red Rock).
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Festivals
SILVER WAVE 2010 ROLLS CLOSER!
10th ANNIVERSARY FOR SWFF
Win a full all access pass to Silver Wave 2010 by guessing WHO THIS ABOVE FILMMAKER IS!
Email Cat at: info@nbfilmcoop.com with your answer.
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The Festival has a $10 submission fee again to help with increased administrative costs.
Click Here (View PDF of SWFF 2010 Call for Submissions)
Click Here (View PDF of SWFF 2010 Application Form)
SWFF does not return festival materials and master screening copies to filmmakers. Please enclose a pre-paid envelope to get your tape and any other materials back after SWFF.
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The Arts
FREDERICTON - EVENT INVITATION
You are cordially invited to attend a News Conference with the Honourable Keith Ashfield (MP for Fredericton) who will make an announcement on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
Please extend this invitation to other members of your organization.
Venue: Charlotte Street Arts Centre
Auditorium (2nd Floor)
732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Time: 9:00am to 9:30am
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FREDERICTON - NBFC KIDS FILMMAKING SUMMER CAMP!
On
August 9-13,
the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative is hosting a Filmmaking Summer Camp for young school students (Ages 9-14), co-ordinated by Film Co-op Filmmaker Michel Guitard. Cost is $150 per student
Program Outline
script writing
production management
directing
shooting and recording sound
picture, sound editing and music placement
distribution of your finished project
Camp runs from 8:30am - 4:30pm each day at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre (732 Charlotte Street) and kids should bring a lunch each day although there will be light snacks and liquids on hand.
Only LIMITED spaces available and registration is open now! Don't miss out on this incredible experience! Please contact Cat Leblanc at: info@nbfilmcoop.com or (506) 455-1632 to register.
INSTRUCTOR PROFILE
Michel Guitard is a prolific young filmmaker, cameraman & editor who has worked on over 95 productions through and outside the NB Film Co-op in different crew positions from the age of 10 to 19 years old. He has done many of his own films; one of them, a Short Film Venture film entitled "Simon Hunter", and his most recent short film, End Of The Line .
Michel is the part-time Technical Director at the NB Film Co-op.
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Biz & Indie Film News
A Theatre Actor Guide to Working in Film
Although film is an obvious derivative of theatre, with deep intertwining parallels, they are very different in structure.
Theatre is a linear medium. An actor will begin with his first line in a play, and end with his last. All this takes place in a two to three hour span of time with maybe an intermission. Film on the other hand, the actor will begin with the scene that is most efficient to shoot first no matter where it lands in the script. This creates a whole set of issues that wouldn’t arise in theatre production. Namely, CONTINUITY!
Continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer. It is of relevance to several media.
Continuity is particularly a concern in the production of film and television due to the difficulty of rectifying an error in continuity after shooting has completed, although it also applies to other art forms, including novels, comics, anime, videogames and animation, though usually on a much broader scale.
Most productions have a script supervisor on hand whose job is to pay attention to and attempt to maintain continuity across the chaotic and typically non-linear production shoot. This takes the form of a large amount of paperwork, photographs, and attention to and memory of large quantities of detail, some of which is sometimes assembled into the story bible for the production. It usually regards factors both within the scene and often even technical details including meticulous records of camera positioning and equipment settings. The use of a Polaroid camera was standard but has since been replaced by the advent of
digital cameras. All of this is done so that ideally all related shots can match, despite perhaps parts being shot thousands of miles and several months apart. It is a less conspicuous job, though, because if done perfectly, no one will ever notice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_(fiction
So, with that said, it takes particularly long to set-up each shot just right so when the editor is doing his job, shots will flow easily into each other. Most of the production is consumed by the camera dept. These guys are craftsmen. Much like a painter or sculptor they mold light to create a consistent look across the entire film. The camera can either make or break a performance. It is to the thespians advantage to remain CALM and PATIENT at long delays. They are only trying to make you look fabulous.
Sometimes an actor may have to repeat a single line several times before the director gets what he’s looking for. This may create a challenge for some actors in terms of maintaining character. But if you are not interested in challenge, you’re in the wrong business. Most indie directors don’t have the luxury of taking several takes so although it’s something to be aware of; it is not always an issue.
This means that the actor must have the same sense of responsibility in terms of memorizing lines that they would for a play. Film stock is expensive! Retakes ultimately become a budget concern, which left unchecked, could eat up a budget in no time. PLEASE BE PREPARED.
In theatre, one of the first things an actor must learn to do is project to the last row of a theatre. Performances must be bigger than life in order for the whole audience to get what they came for. In film the camera is what we use to project the actors performance. If a director suggests that a performance might be “TOO BIG”, it is only because the camera is right in your face and it becomes unnatural for you to over play the moment
It is important to note that this document is not designed to diminish or criticize the complexity of a theatre production. Rather, it is written with the intent to inform. Actors must approach film and theatre both with the equal amount of respect they deserve. The process in creating both may be vastly different, but one thing is certain – both are highly collaborative mediums that need you, the actor, to understand the minutia that makes the magic.
Riverview, NB NBFC member Michael Cowie
Email Mike
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SHORT FILM VENTURE PROGRAM!
Aspiring filmmakers across the province are invited to submit applications for the Short Film Venture Program. The program is an initiative sponsored by New Brunswick Film, in cooperation with the New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-operative of Fredericton, NB.
If you have any questions, please email Tony at the NB Film Co-op at: info@nbfilmcoop.com
Applications can be dropped off or mailed directly to Cat at the NB Film Co-op in Fredericton.
New Brunswick Film helps develop the careers of professional filmmakers in our province. The Short Film Venture Program allows individuals to express their creativity in the visual format of short films. An eligible applicant must be a resident of New Brunswick as of the last day of the immediately preceding taxation year (December 31).
Applicants must submit a proposal by May 31 of each year, outlining their short film concept. Successful projects will be selected, go through a jury process to determine a shortlist for script analysis review, and final recipients will be notified by July 24 of each year.The final film must be completed by March 31 of the following year.
Those chosen for the program will receive a grant of 25%, of the total cost of the project, up to a maximum of $5,000. Winners will have a chance to train with some of New Brunswick’s industry professionals.
The winning productions will be given a showcase with a premier screening at a film festival in New Brunswick.
Projects submitted should meet the following guidelines:
- Be fictional in nature but could include small parts of comedy, animation and docu-drama;
- Experimental, animation or documentary films will not be considered;
- Have a running time of 10 minutes or less;
- Be shot on film or digital video, and may be completed in film or digital video provided they meet standard broadcast requirements;
- The medium, theme, and subject matter are up to the applicant, provided the project is suitable for general audiences;
-- Films may be produced in either English or French.
Previous applicants of the New Brunswick Short Film Venture Program, who were non-recipients, are eligible to apply with new project proposals
New Brunswick Film is a business unit of Business New Brunswick with a mission to promote and support a vibrant film and television industry in the province.
Since 2000, many emerging filmmakers have obtained grant funding and launched careers in the film and television industry, thanks to the Short Film Venture initiative.
For further information, please refer to the application form.
Click here for Application form in: (PDF)
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Advertise
CALLING ALL ACTORS/ACTRESSES: GREATER MONCTON AREA
CASTING CALL for "Thanksgiving Wishes". We need non-union volunteer actors/actresses for a comedy short film to be made in Moncton by NB Film Co-op member D.J. Sweet. It will be a single weekend shoot in May.
Cast positions required:
Willow: woman, mid-to-late 20s.
Amber: woman, mid-to-late 20s.
Mom: woman, mid-to-late 40s or early 50s.
Janis: woman, mid-to-late 20s.
Dad: man, mid-to-late 40s or early 50s.
Husband: man, mid-to-late 20s, must be gorgeous.
No Experience necessary. Bring resume and headshot if available, but don't worry if you don't have one.
If interested, contact D.J. Sweet at
den.sweet@gmail.com
for details.
You can come to any one of our auditions in April, on:
Wed. 7th from 5 PM to 9 PM at the Moncton Public Library, Conference Room "A/B"
Fri. 9th from 11:30 AM to 5 PM at the Moncton Public Library, Conference Room "D" or
Sat. 10th. from 11:30 AM to 5 PM at the Moncton Public Library, Conference Room "D".
The Moncton Public Library is at 644 Main Street, Suite 101, Moncton.
Please come prepared with a short monologue and one of the following scenes memorized: ( click here for PDF of scenes )
Women mid-to-late 20s please come prepared with a short monologue of your own choosing (comedy is better) and also a prepared version of one of the sample scenes playing either Willow or Amber.
Women in mid-to-late 40s or early 50s please come prepared with a short monologue of your own choosing (comedy is better) and also a prepared version of one of the sample scenes playing Mom.
Men of all ages please come prepared with a short monologue of your own choosing (comedy is better). The men don't need to prepare a dialogue scene for the audition.
If you do not have time to memorize a monologue or your scene in advance, don't worry. Come to the auditions anyway and bring your scripts with you, for reference during the audition. If you have any questions about the auditions or film please contact D.J. Sweet at
den.sweet@gmail.com
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12 ANNUAL SCRIPTAPALOOZA SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
http://www.scriptapalooza.com/index2.html
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JOB OPPORTUNITY
Video Reporter, Summer Student Employment,
PARKS CANADA AGENCY
For: Fredericton, NB; Halifax, NS; Moncton, NB; Sydney, NS.
32 Position (s)
http://www.workopolis.com/EN/job/11334664
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CASTING CALL - VOLUNTEER
Sparrowhock Productions is looking for volunteer actors to work on a short film shot May 7, 8, 9 and
14, 15, 16. It will be shot in Moncton and Fredericton, with carpool options available.
Actors required:
Cora – 19-25 – female lead – girl geek and hopeless romantic. D&D character is a human sorcerer
David – 19-25 – male lead – handsome and clueless about women. D&D character is a human fighter
Alex – 19-25 – supporting – accident prone. D&D character is an elf druid
Mike – 22-27 – supporting – serious and dry sense of humor. D&D character is a human rogue
Jon – 22-27 – supporting – Dungeon master who enjoys tormenting his players
Ashley – 19-25 – supporting – Cora's best friend and confidant
Monster – any age – no lines but active on screen – the second monster the heroes fight in their campaign
Auditions will be at 732 Charlotte Street in the resource room (basement, next to the cafe) on March 27 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and on March 31 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Sides will be provided at the audition and each actor will have a few minutes to prepare before entering the audition.
For further information contact Britany Sparrow at britsparrow@gmail.com